LEARN ABOUT
Current Projects and Programs
LEARN ABOUT
Current Projects and Programs
North Jersey RC&D
AgAssist:
Fall Cover Crop
Supporting Farmers
Protecting Water Quality
The AgAssist: Fall 2024 Cover Crop program offers a per acre payment for cover cropping on up to 100 acres. Payment is provided after (1) an agreement letter is signed, (2) seed receipts are submitted (3) cover crops are planted by their specified dates.
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WHO IS NORTH JERSEY RC&D: We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to working through partnerships and with farmers towards agricultural sustainability and water resource protection.
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WHAT IS FUNDED: Single and multi-species cover crop seed, organic or non-organic, up to 100 acres.
- Planting Dates
- Single species cover crops: for producers wishing to plant a cereal rye fall cover crop, seed must be planted by November 1st. Consult North Jersey RC&D for other species’ planting dates.
- Multi-species cover crop: seeding mix must be planted by September 15th for a fall cover crop and must include a minimum of three species from at least two plant groups (i.e. two small grains and a legume).
- Organic cover crop seed: Same dates apply for single species and multi-species planting dates. Consult North Jersey RC&D for other species’ planting dates.
- Cover Crop Rates: See the table below. NEW FOR 2024: higher rates for all categories and separate rates for small-scale cover crop fields.
- Planting Dates
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WHO IS ELIGIBLE: Eligibility is based on fields to be cover cropped. Fields must fall within focus watershed areas and the grantee cannot be receiving payment for cover crop on those same fields through another program such as NRCS EQIP, CSP, etc.
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For the Fall 2024 cover crop only, all farmers in the Delaware River Watershed within the counties of Sussex, Warren, Hunterdon, and Morris Counties are eligible. Please reference the map below.
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Farms producing agricultural products worth $2,500 or more annually.
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A case-by-case determination can be made for farms that do not meet the $2,500 requirement but demonstrate a strong need for assistance to remedy a water quality or soil health issue.
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HOW IT WORKS:
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North Jersey RC&D will review applications. Eligible applicants must plan to cover crop within focus watershed area. See the map.
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An agreement is signed with selected grantees. The grantee agrees to plant cover crop seed by specific dates.
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Grantees will provide NJ RC&D with seed receipts. After cover crop is seeded, the grantee will provide locations and/or maps of the cover cropped fields. The fields will be verified by NJ RC&D staff. Pictures of the cover cropped fields may be needed from the producer for verification.
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A check will be mailed after completion of the above steps for the cover cropped acres.
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HOW TO APPLY: Complete the online application at the bottom of this form. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and batch processed monthly.
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HOW WILL APPLICATIONS BE RANKED? Applications will receive ranking based on:
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Impact to water quality;
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Highly erodible land (HEL) determination;
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Past funding received; and
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Historically underserved status.
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HOW IS AGASSIST COVER CROP DIFFERENT FROM AGASSIST COST-SHARE?: AgAssist Cover Crop is part of the broader AgAssist Cost-Share Program. A separate webpage and application was created for AgAssist Cover Crop to make the application process easier for those interested in cover crop only. To learn more about the broader AgAsisst Cost-Share Program, please visit: https://www.northjerseyrcd.org/agassist-cost-share. Please note that the eligible focus area for the AgAssist Fall 2024 Cover Crop program is much wider than the AgAssist Cost-Share program.
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HOW IS THIS FUNDED?: AgAssist: Cover Crop is made possible through grants awarded to North Jersey RC&D. Current grant funding is made available from the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Delaware River Restoration Fund, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture.
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Areas Eligible for Funding
Areas eligible for funding are highlighted on the map below. Eligibility for opportunities is based on farm location. Search for your address using the search bar to determine if your farm is within the focus areas.
Please note that the eligible focus area for the AgAssist Fall 2024 Cover Crop program is much wider than the usual AgAssist Cost-Share program and is for Fall 2024 only.
Pink/Light Red areas =Watershed focus areas (areas eligible for cover crop funding).
Apply using the link above.
If you have questions or need help completing the application, please contact Sam Loscalzo at sloscalzo@northjerseyrcd.org or call North Jersey RC&D staff at (908) 574-5368
Check out our Cover Crop & No-till Resources page for a link to the Cover Crop Selection Tool, information on programs available for no-till equipment, planting green, and more!
Our Partners
AgAssist is made possible through grant funding from New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection; New Jersey Department of Agriculture; and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
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